04.03.2014 | 17:57 unian.net
Translated by Denis Gapayev
Edited by Isis Wisdom
Source: http://www.unian.net/politics/892915-dokazatelstva-lji-putina-analiz-orujiya-neizvestnyih-voennyih-v-kryimu.html

Requested by The New Times, military experts have analyzed the photographs taken in the Crimea.

Taciturn soldiers who appeared on the streets of Crimean cities and towns ten days ago and called the “polite people” by journalists have no insignia and are officially still “unidentified,” writes newtimes.ru.

At his press conference held on 4 March, 2014, President Putin said: “These were local self-defense detachments. We have never participated in training them.” However, their weapons and operational inventory often have a very clear “national identity.” Requested by The New Times, military experts who asked the journalists not to mention their names have analyzed the photographs taken in the Crimea.

Photo: @GZhygalov

All is definite in this case: we see an off-road vehicle GAZ-2975, called TIGR, costing $60K each and provided by the manufacturer to the Russian army only. Moreover, on the military-type number plate we see the code 21 referring to the North Caucasus Military District of the Russian Federation.

Photo: @vezhlivo

According to the experts, here is more proof of the Russian identity of the “polite people:” an emblem of a guards division can be seen on the right side of this TIGR. They probably forgot to camouflage it. The TIGR itself is a new modification first demonstrated to the public at a jubilee military parade held in Moscow on 9 May, 2005.

Photo: @vezhlivo

In this photograph we see a sniper rifle that at first sight may be mistaken for a Yugoslav Zastava. However, it’s a semi-automatic Dragunov sniper rifle, and, judging from its receiver, of the latest modification that has been officially supplied to Russian forces only. Butts of this shape were designed for new modifications in the late 90’s only. The rifle is capable of hitting a running man from a distance of 800 meters. Interestingly enough, that the “polite people” hold their weapons not according to the Russian rules, but rather, according to NATO standards. For instance, the weapons barrels are pointed downwards, and the soldier in the background supports his rifle with his bent arm, which is characteristic in the first place for US and European armies. According to the weapons experts, this is a result of the implementation of the latest western military techniques in individual Russian special task forces.

Photo: @vezhlivo

In this photograph, we see an example of the Kalashnikov 100 Series (modifications AK 101-105). It’s a 1994 development, the most widely known and commonly used variant of automatic weapons. It is made of a glass-nylon composite. Its fore-sight and rear-sight bases are made using the microcast process. This type of weapon has been manufactured in Russia only until recently and never been supplied to the Ukrainian army officially. The right of assembly of these modifications was licensed to Venezuela in 2006 and later to Spain and India for the purposes of rearmament of the armies of these countries. Though, one could admit that these Kalashes might have been imported into Ukraine illegally. Furthermore, despite the fact that soldiers in this photo have no chevrons or shoulder straps, the man looking towards the camera (to the right of other soldiers) can be identified as an officer from the pistol on his side and the radio in his shoulder pocket.

Photo: @vezhlivo

Again, here we see the 100 Series Kalashnikovs, though the one on the left must be a newer piece judging from a better-quality shape. The soldier on the left has a night viewer PNV- 93.2 of the Russian make attached to his subgun, which is not on the list of standard military inventory and is rarely used in the Russian army – mainly by special task force units.

Photo: @vezhlivo

In this photograph, we see a traditional modification of the Kalashnikov known as AK-47, 5.45 mm. Its point-blank range on the breast silhouette is 440 meters. This can be purchased on a relatively open market, therefore both Ukrainian and Russian armies have it in service.

Photo: @vezhlivo

The leftmost soldier holds a PK machine gun, 7.62 mm, 7.5 kg, that was passed into service in the Soviet Army back in 1969. Though, judging from its frame-type butt, it’s a modernized modification widely used in the Russian Army. But this model cannot be considered to be used by the Russian soldiers only.